Atomic frequency standard



M. ARDITI ATOMIC FREQUENCY STANDARD Sept. 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 29, 1958 l MC/GAl/Ss o h m W 0 m m mw q E na m. 5 V v f a ,1 E R M y M B e w a f M A 0 PTO "f w m w m Mf c m M so m m 0 M5 v0 ENE ukmuwt m v f r A A 5 9 5 w w m 0 1 m Sept. 6, 1960 M. ARDITI ATOMIC FREQUENCY STANDARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1958 W) (\S 000x:

. frequency. Certain transitions which 2,951,992 ATOMIC FREQUENCY STANDARD 'Maurice Arditi, Clifton, N.J., assignor to International Telephone and'Telegraph Corporation, Nutley, N.J., a corporation of Maryland 7 Filed Apr. 29, 1958, Ser. No. 731,76:6

- V 8 Claims. 01. 331-4 It has heretofore been proposed to usethe frequency selective atomic transitions in an alkali metal vapor cell as a control for an oscillator to thereby provide a frein the ground state of an alkali metal quency standard. Devices of this type have been termed Atomic Clocks. One of the desiderata of such a clock is that it be relatively insensitive to changes in the ambient magnetic field. On the other hand, it is also desired :that the control signal obtained from the transitions in the alkali metal vapor cell have 'a large signal-.to-noisfe ratio to thereby provide better control of the atomic clock provide such a large signal-to-noise ratio control signal, particularly when opticallyypumped, unfortunately are sensitive to changes in theambient 'rnagneticfield. Two of such transitions I are-AF=lAm =f-1. and AF=;lAm' =l where F designates a hyperfine ground energy level state ofthealkali metal vapor and m designates one of its Zeeman'sublevels. A characteristic of these two kinds of transitions is that the center frequencies of their frequency selective characteristics vary symmetrically and in opposite directions' with corresponding changes in the strength of the magnetic field in which they occur; In thecopending V .U.S .;application of A. Kastler-M. A-rditi for Frequency Selection 'System'Utilizing a Plurality ofTransitions, in-

tended to be filed simultaneous-1y herewith, filed April F2 9, 1958, Serial No..' 73-6,431, there is described an atomic .jclo'ck which simultaneously utilizesboth these kinds of transitions, the frequency selective characteristic of each witransition' being used in controlling a separate crystal oscillator; the result of this-is that the frequency of each crystal oscillator isflocked to that of a dilferentone-of 'saidwtwokinds of transitions." As *the magnet-infield -v aries,-the frequency-ofnone of said, crystal oscillators :wi'llgoup, while that of the other will godown by an equal; amount. Consequently, when the '-frequencies of the'two crystal oscillators are added, the ICSUItaHtCOI-H- jbined' frequency remains constant :despite changes-in the strength of the magnetic field within which the controlling,

transitionsoccuni At the same time, this system has the J advantage of providing signals of large signal -to-noise v ratio, particularly when optically :pumped, to A enable 1 easier and better control of the oscillators. 'Opticalpumpe -"ing'saidutransitionsl i :The-system described-.in-said application tends tohave ing also-enables the use of simple optical means for detect- ;a, considerable "duplicationof; the ;more expensive and/tor Zamora: fdelicate parts. -fTlf1l1S," for examp 1e ,-.;two crystal.os-

rcillatorsiare employed.v In addition; in order to bringftheir frequencies-np;to the center frequenciespf the transitions, v h

- these .transitions than, for example, would be obtained by the output of 265x911;- f s i o tors is'passed through a equency synthesizer which consists essentially of ,a. chain hyperfine ground energy level Patented Sept. 6, 1960 'ice mentionedapplication that each' crystal oscillator have a frequency of approximately 1 megacycle and that it be multiplied by approximately 1800 times. Obviously, such synthesizers are expensive and tend to make the system complex and cumbersome. Various other duplications in expensive and/or cumbersome equipment are also required in the system described in said application.

Anobject of the present invention is the provision of an improved atomic frequency standard simultaneously utilizing both the above-mentioned kinds of transitions. A feature ofthe present invention is the use of only a relatively stable single oscillator, such as a crystal oscillator, whose frequency is controlled by both kinds of transitions. l" t Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent, and the foregoing will be better under:

stood. with reference to thefollowing description of an embodiment thereof, reference being had to the drawings, in which: Fig. l is an energy level diagram of the ground state of sodium 23 showing the Zeeman splitting thereof;

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing changes of frequency with changes of magnetic field strength for three microwave transitions in sodium 23.;

and a 1 {Fig 3 is a schematic and block diagram of anatomic clock, arrangement according to the present invention.

To facilitate understanding of the presentinvention, there is next presented a brief discussion of the energy levels in the groundstate of alkali metal vapors and variations of the center frequency of the frequency selective characteristics of transitionsinvolving these levels with changes in the strength of the magnetic field inwhich these transitions occur. -,This discussion is principally directed to the energy levels and transitions of sodium 23,

but its application to the other alkali metal vapors will be apparent.- I

Referring now to Fig. 1, which schematically indicates the ground energy levels of sodium 23, it will be seen that this, energy level is split into two hyperfineilevelsF= 2 and F=l, which are'subject to Zeeman splitting into Zeeman subflevels under the influence of a'we'ak magnetic field. As shown in Fig. l, the hyperfine, level F=2 is split into five Zeeman sub-levels, while the hyperfine level F=l is split into three Zeemansub-levels. Transitions between the Zeeman. sub-levels will be produced by proper excitation. Transitions between these sub- .levels are governed by the selection rules for magnetic dipole radiation: F=0,":1Am =0, :1

where m is the magnetic quantum number usedto-distinguish' said sub-levels.

are of principal interest here are those invo1vingAPj, =1 since the transitions AF=0 correspond to relatively lower frequenciesand thus are of lesser interest where high The particular transitions that accuracy, such as for an atomic clock, is desired. More specifically, the transitions in alkalimetal vapors of major interest for the embodiment of the present invention hereindescribed are the transitions AF= 1Am =ilL In the case of sodium these transitions would be from -F=-lm;-= l. These two transitions are indicated-by pumping, for example by circularly polarized lighna greater signal-toanoiseratio is-obtainable in detecting detecting the AF=lAm O 'transitionstfor sodium 23, this is indicat ed ,byline C in Figs. 1 and 2)., while at the tim by ut z the e h est e t ention, the sensitivity of these transitions to variations in the magnetic field strength is prevented from affecting the center frequency stability of the output of the system.

The effect of optically pumping an alkali metal vapor with right and left circularly polarized light is to raise the energy level of the atoms to an excitedstateffrom which they fall back to the ground state level producing a population increase principally in the largest absolute values of the magnetic momentum of the hyperfine energy levels. Thus, there would be an increase in the population pileup (Fig. l) at F=2m =+2 and at F=2m =2 in sodium 23. If the optical pumping is done with right circularly polarized light, then the pileup would tend to occur at one of the foregoing levels, for example, m =+2, and if the light is left circularly polarized, then the pileup would occur at the other of said levels m =2. Unpolarized light which may be thought of as a random mixture of equal numbers of two kinds of photons, one left and one right circularly polarized, would produce pileups at both levels. In cesium the pileup would occur principally at F=4m -=+4 and F=4m =4. A similar pileup would occur for the 'other alkali metal vapors, it being a general observation that them ore hyperfine ground energy levels there are, the greater the tendency for the atoms in an excited state to distribute their enregy pileups over a greater number of said hyperfine levels. up tends to be at the highest absolute values of the hyperfine ground energy level. Whentransitions are excited from these levels at which there is a population pileup, the resulting transitions produce a larger signal-to-noise "ratio when detected.

However, the largest pile- There is, however, a problem involved in the use of' such transitions. This can be best seen by an examina- "tion of Fig. 2 which illustrates the effect of a change in the magnetic field upon the center frequency of the frequency selective characteristic of these transitions (in sodium 23). The transitions designated by the letters a and b of Fig. 1 are similarly designated in Fig. 2. The magnetic field strength is plotted along the ordinate, while frequency is plotted along the abscissa. The center frequency at a zero magnetic field for the AF=1Am =1 -(sodium 23) hyperfine ground state transitions is approximately l77l.626+ megacycles per second; as the magnetic field increases, the center frequency of these 7 transitions a and b vary as shown in opposite directions but symmetrically at the rate of 2.1 megacycles per gauss. 1 It 'is because the center frequency of these transitions a and b shifts with the magnetic field that theyhave not 'been looked on favorably for purposes of atomic frequency standards. :Instead, as described in the aforementioned application, it has been preferredto use the transition AF=1Am =O (see C, Figs. 1 and 2). It will be seen that the center frequency of this transition is relatively insensitive to changes in the magnetic field strength. However, in detecting this transition, the

, and in this specific example in cells 7 and 8; Various methods of achieving such uniformity may be employed. Obviously, one of the best techniques is to remove the cells from any magnetic field gradient or disturbances.

in each of these cells are produced by microwave energy directed therethrough whose R.'F. field is at right angles to the static magnetic field and is likewise perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light through said cells. In the illustrated embodiment, optical detection is used with a suitable automatic frequency control system tocontrol the output frequency of a source of oscillations. 7

Referring now specifically to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3 two steady beams of circularly polarized resonant radiation 1 and 2 are obtainedfrom a standard sodium lamp '3, preferably energized from a steady direct current energy source 4, whose light output is divided into two beams and directed through separate circular polarizers 5 and6, with 5 producing right circularly polarized light and 6 producing left circularly polarized light so that beams 1 and 2 are of right and leftcircularly polarized flight, respectively. By right circularly polarized light as used herein, the direction of polariza- 'tionis the same as the direction of the magnetizing current producing the static magnetic field H parallel to the direction of propagation of the light. Left circularly polarized light is opposite in direction to said magnetizing current. Beams 1 and 2 are directed respectively through gas cells 7 and 8, each containing vaporized sodium2-3 and a buffer gas or gases, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The beams produce foptical pumping in these cells. 7

Cells 7 and 8 may be prepared in the manner described in the copending application of M. Arditi-T. R. Carver,

'Serial No. 701,929, filed December 10, 1957, for Frequency Selective Method and System and may have a single buffer gas or a plurality of butter gases therein as described in the copending application of M. Arditi,

Serial No. 716,686, filed February'21', 1958, for "Gas Cell for Frequency Selective System to provide pressure stabilization. The cells are, of course, heated as explained in the above-mentioned applications to a suitable temperature.

Means 9 are provided for establishing a static field H 9 for establishing a static magnetic field are preferably in-g both cells. It must be remembered that for the present purpose it is unnecessary that the magnetic field permeating both cells be constant, but merely that this magnetic field should be as nearly uniform as possible throughout the areas where the different transitions occur For creatingsuch a' relatively weak magnetic fieldof signal-to-noise ratio obtained is relatively small as c'or'n-:

pared with the transitions a and b and therefore, in the present inventionit is proposed to use the frequencyselective characteristics of the transitions a and b, or their counterparts in the other alkali metals, for example, for an atomic clock, One preferred embodiment of such a clock is illustrated in Fig. 3. However, before going into a discussion of Fig. 3, it may bewell to point I out at this time that Figs. 1 and 2 arenotintended to be quantitatively exact and are used for illustrative purposes,

to make the present invention more easilyunderstandable.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, twogas cells are arranged in a substantially uniform static magnetic field, the two cells being optically pumped by' rightano relatively uniform characteristics, the means 9 may inelude two pairs at right angles of Helmholtz coils 10 p surrounding said cells'7 and 8 and spaced apart a (118- tance equal to their radiius and carrying the same current. To further increase uniformity, it may be found empirically that the use of shields maybe desirable. Alternatively, or in additionto theHelmholtz coils, in order to cprrect field distortions it may be desirable to use suitably shaped permanent magnets for this purpose.

To excite transitions in gas cells 7'and 8, there is provided a'relatively-stable microwave frequency source 11 L these figures being intentionally exaggerated and distorted cdnsisting 'of a' crystal oscillator 12 and a frequency synthesizer"13, the'f synthesizer 13, in turn, consisting of a 'number of multipliers I and mixers (not shown) to 16 to that 0f" the source 11 and is then applied via a microwave resonance. curve, or an 8. curve. .ivoltages produced by detectors 33 and 34 are fed through reactance tubes 35 and 36,)respec'tively, to control the: frequency of interpolation oscillators 14 and '15 thereby coaxial line 17 to a probe 18- in a radiating horn 19 to illuminate and excite transitions in cell 7, the probe being .so; oriented that the RF. magnetic field is perpendicular ..to the propagation of, the light into cell 7 and is per- =-field and the direction of light propagation through cell 8.

To lock the combined frequencies of the output of flmixers 1'6 and 20 to the center frequency of the frequency characteristics of the ground transitionsin cells 7 and 8 designated as AF;1Am =+1 and AF=1Am =-1, respectively, any suitable automatic frequency control means may be employ d which varies the frequency of the interpolation oscillators 14 and 15, respectively. For

this purpose, a small phase modulation is introduced in the output of oscillators 1-4 and 15 by means of phase --modulators 25 and 2-6, respectively, which are driven by low frequency oscillators 27and 28, respectively, which 'may have a frequency, for example, of 30 cycles per sec-- nd. As this phase modulation occurs, there is a small changein the frequencies applied to the cells 7 and 8, 'varying the light outputs from each cell.

'33 and 34, respectively, wherein a comparison is made between the phase of the signal derived from each of said amplifiers 31 and 32 with the phase of the signal from sources 27 and 28, respectively, so that the outputs of phase detectors '33 and 34 givethe derivative of the The error locking said oscillators to the Am =:1 transitions for the corresponding value of the static magnetic field H6.

To understand the operation of the system of Fig. 3 up to this point, let us turn to Fig. 2.

Assuming that initially the frequency of the source 11 is not at the center frequency f (see Fig. 2) but that it is o'lf center at a frequency f and assuming that the magnetic field is 0.2 gauss, the two transitions a and b will beat the frequencies indicated by points at and e.

Interpolation oscillator 14 then will have a frequency Af so that the output of mixer 20, f p-Ai equals the center frequency of the transition a in cell 7 with a magnetic'field of 0.2 gauss. On the other hand, inter- .polation oscillator 14 will have a frequency Af in order that the output of mixer 16, f '+Af will equal the center frequency of transition b in cell 8 with a magnetic field of 0.2 gauss. In accordance with the present invention, in order to have an output from source 11 which is stable despite changes in the magnetic field, it is necessary that f should be at the center frequency (f as shown in Fig. 1 and that Af =Af Accordingly, the next step is to shift the frequency of the source 11 until Ah is equal to Af or, stated another way, until the frequencies of interpolation oscillators 14 and 15 are equal. For this purpose, referring now back to Fig. 3, the frequencies G quency discriminator 37 and reactance tube 38 isnormally' maintained open until the interpolation oscillators have reached a fixed frequency, the initial adjustment 'of source 11 being as close to the center frequency as feasible, and thereafter the switch 39 is closed to cause re-adjustments of the oscillator 12 and thereby of source 11 in accordance with the procedure hereinbefore outlined. The frequency discriminator 37 may be of any suitable .type such as, for example, .a pair of frequency counters each producing a DC. voltage proportional to frequency, the DC. voltages oeiag compared or. subtracted from each other to produce the control voltage.

the timethe apparatus is originally turned on,

there is a probability that the frequencies used to excite the cells 7 and 8 deviate sufiiciently from the center frequencies of the-desired transitions so as to fail to excite transitions in said cells and thereby fail to provide detectable signals for use in the phase detectors 33 and 34. Accordingly, it is proposed to provide a means for sweeping the interpolation oscillators 14 and 15 over a range until the transitions are excited and the phase detectors 33 and 34 can operate to control and lock in the interpolation oscillators 14 and 15. For this purpose,

sawtooth type sweep voltage generators 40 and 41'may beprovided which provide sawtooth voltages'via gates 42 and 43, respectively, to reactance tubes '35 and 36, these gates normally being open and adapted to be closed when a signalap-pears at the input of phase detectors 33 and 34, respectively. The gates, of course, may be in the form of A.C. operated relays with a sufficiently long delay time so. as to eliminate excessive searching and chattering. Some representative figures for one embodiment are as follows. 7 The crystal oscillator 12 has a frequency-of 5 megacycles, the synthesiZer produces a multiplication thereof by approximately 3.60 and the interpolation oscillators producea frequency output of about 1 megacycle or under. Of course, the range of the interpolation a minor fraction of a gauss.

While the system described herein in the specific example has been particularly directed to an arrangement using sodium as the alkali metal vapor, obviously the of interpolation oscillators 14 and 15 are compared in system also is applicable to similar arrangements utilizing the other alkali metal vapors. Similarly other variations pointed out in said copending application and applicable to the present invention may be employed. Also for any further details not fully described herein, reference is made to said above-mentioned application and the applications mentioned therein.

Accordingly, while I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. An atomic frequency standard comprising a relatively stable source of radio frequency energy, a pair of interpolation oscillators, means for adding the frequency of one of said interpolation oscillators to that of said source to produce a sum frequency, means for subtracting the frequency of the other of said interpolation oscillators from that of said source to produce a difference frequency, a pair of .cells of alkali metal vapor, means for establishing a substantially homogeneous static magnetic fields permeating both said cells, means for applying energy of said sum frequency to one of said cells to excite hyperfine ground energy level transitions of a first type therein, means for applying energy of said difference frequency to the other of said cells to excite microwave hyperfine ground energy level transitions of a second type therein, said static magnetic field having a substantial component at right angles to the 7 V i ,t applied microwave magnetic energy vector, the center ,frequency of the frequency characteristic of said types of transitions varying symmetrically and oppositely with changes in the strength of said component of said static magnetic field, means for detecting said transitions, automatic frequency control means coupled to the output of said detection means to vary the frequency of the interpolation oscillators to lock said sum frequency and said difference frequency to the center of the frequency selective characteristics of said first and said second types of transitions respectively, and means responsive to the difference in frequency between said two interpolation oscillators for adjusting the frequency of said stable oscillators are equalized.

.12. An atomic frequency standard comprising a relatively, and means responsive to the difference in frequency between said two interpolation oscillators for adjusting the frequency of said stable oscillator until the frequencies of said -t'wo interpolation oscillators are equal- 3. An atomic frequency sandard according to claim '2 further including'means for exciting said cells to pro- ,duce an increase of population at the largest absolute 7 values of the magnetic momentum of the hyperfine enercillator until the frequencies of said two interpolation osi 15 quency ofv one of said interpolation oscillators to that r of said source to produce a sum frequency, means for subtracting the frequency of the other of said interpolation oscillators from that of said source to produce a jdiflerence frequency, a pair of cells of alkali metal vapor,lmeans for establishing a substantially homogenelous static magnetic field permeating both said cells, means "for applying energy of said sum frequency and difference frequency to said separate ones of said cells to excite two types of hyperfine ground energy level transitions therein: AF=1 m =+1, and AF=lAmp=l, respec- .spectively, where F designates a hyperfine ground energy level state of the alkali metal vapor and my designates one of its Zeeman sub-levels, said static magnetic field having a substantial component at right angles to the applied microwave magnetic vector, means for detecting said transitions, automatic frequency control means coupled to the output of said detection means to vary the frequency of the interpolation oscillators to lock said sum frequency and said difference frequency to the center of the frequency selective characteristics of said first and said second types of transitions respecgy levels in the groundstate of the alkali metal vapor. 4. An atomic frequency standard according to claim 3 wherein said means for increasing the population includes gmeans for optically pumping said cells with right and left circularly polarized light, respectively.

' 5. An atomic frequency standard according to claim 2 wherein said means foradding and said means for subtracting each consists of amixer,

, 6. An atomic frequency standard according to claim 2 wherein said source of radio frequency energy comprises a crystal oscillator anda frequency synthesizer coupled to the output thereof.

" i 7. An atomic'frequency standard according to claim2 further including means for directing right circularly polarized light through one cell and left circularly polarized light through the other cell.

, 8. An atomic frequency standard according to claim 7 wherein said detecting means comprises optical detection fimeans positioned to'receive the light directed through said cells. n i 7 v I v References Cited in the file of this patent '7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,560,365 -Norton c July 10, 1951 2,60%897 j Norton July 8, 1952 2,669,659' Norton Feb; 16, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES 199, no, 2, pages 381-385. 

